When to Call 911 vs the Non Emergency Police Number

That one sentence covers most situations. The rest of this page is for the cases that are not obvious.

Call 911

• A crime is happening right now, or just happened and the person involved is still nearby.
• Someone is injured, unconscious, or in danger.
• You see a fire, or you smell gas or smoke.
• A vehicle crash with injuries, or one blocking traffic in a way that puts people at risk.
• You need an ambulance.
• You are watching something unfold and you think it could turn dangerous in the next few minutes.

Call the non emergency number

• A theft, burglary or vandalism that already happened, with no suspect nearby.
• A vehicle crash with no injuries and no blocked road.
• Noise complaints, barking dogs, parking problems.
• Abandoned vehicles, or a car that has been sitting somewhere suspiciously for days.
• Following up on a report you already filed, or asking for a copy of one.
• Asking an administrative question: property release, records, how to reach a specific officer or unit.

The test that actually works

Forget how serious the situation feels and ask yourself two questions: is anyone in danger right now, and is it still happening. If either answer is yes, call 911. If both are no, the non emergency line is the right choice, and using it keeps 911 free for the calls that cannot wait.

A burglary is a serious crime, but if it happened last night and the burglar is long gone, it is a non emergency call. Someone trying a door handle in your yard right now is a 911 call, even though nothing has been stolen yet. The difference is time and danger, not how bad the crime sounds.

What to have ready before you dial

• Where. The exact address, or the nearest cross streets. This is the first thing you will be asked, and it decides which agency handles the call.
• What and when. A short factual description and the time. Say immediately if the person involved has already left.
• Who. Descriptions, and vehicle and plate if you have them. Say whether anyone is hurt and whether a weapon was seen.
• Your callback number, in case the line drops.

Speak in plain facts and let the call taker ask the questions. They are typing while you talk, and the order of their questions is designed to get help moving as early as possible.

A note on 311 and online reporting

Some large cities route non emergency calls through 311 instead of a seven digit police line: Chicago and Las Vegas are two well known examples. Many departments also let you file reports online for minor incidents with no suspect information, such as theft from a vehicle, lost property or vandalism. If your city offers it, it is usually faster than waiting on hold.

Find your local number

Every agency publishes its own non emergency line, and they are all different. You can look up your city in our directory to get the number, the address and the official website of the department that covers you. Every number we list has been checked against the agency’s own website.

The two questions that decide it

Frequently asked questions

What if I call 911 and it turns out not to be an emergency?

You will not get in trouble for calling 911 in good faith. Dispatchers are trained to redirect calls, and hesitating is the bigger risk. If you are genuinely unsure, call 911.

Is the non emergency number answered 24 hours a day?

In most places yes, because it usually reaches the same dispatch centre as 911. Some smaller departments route it to an answering service or to the county sheriff outside office hours.

Will an officer still come if I use the non emergency line?

Often yes, but as a lower priority call, so it can take longer. For minor incidents with no suspect, many departments will take the report over the phone or online instead of sending a patrol.